Protection Tips for Driving on the Highway

Quiz: What is the leading cause of death among children and young adults?

Automobile accidents according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A high percentage of these deaths occur on highways due to the higher speeds involved.

Here are practical easy steps you can take to protect yourself, your family, and others when driving on the highway:

■When you merge onto the freeway, you should be at average traffic speed.

■When in the right lane of a freeway, move over one lane to the left when you see drivers coming into traffic from the entrance ramp. If this is not possible, slow down to give the entering driver more room.

■Allow plenty of room between you and other vehicles. Many driving experts advocate the two-second rule. Under this rule, you should start counting when you see the vehicle in front of you pass a fixed object. Count "one thousand one, one thousand two." If you reach the fixed object before "two," you are following too closely.

■Try to maintain average traffic speed. Vehicles going much slower or faster than other traffic are a recipe for an accident. Common sense, however, regarding speeding laws must also be considered.

■You should use extra caution when driving at night or in bad weather. Remember that many drivers do not adjust their driving habits for the weather or bad road conditions.

■Avoid any sudden moves, since this does not give other drivers time to react.

■Continuously scan the roadway ahead of you for signs of trouble, including construction and traffic slowdowns.

■Be aware of the positions of other drivers around you, particularly those beside you or slightly to the rear. Make sure that your rearview mirrors are properly adjusted before you drive your car.

■Remember that your reaction time and overall driving skills decline as you get tired. Breaks every few hours are important.

■When exiting the freeway, be sure to signal well in advance. Do not slow down significantly until you start to turn off the freeway.